DfE Launch A National Conversation On SEND Reform

Families at heart of reforms as government launches national conversation on SEND 

·       Government acts on commitment to put parents’ experiences at the heart of SEND reform through new public engagement campaign.   

·       More than 100,000 opportunities for families and the sector to join the conversation online and in-person and share their views on expert proposals for SEND reform.  

·       Comes as new report shows positive impact of early intervention for neurodivergent children – supporting the government’s key reform principles to give every child the best start in life. 

Government acts on commitment to make sure parents play a central role in helping shape the future Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, as it sets ambition to deliver the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation. 

The government inherited a SEND system on its knees, with too many children let down and parents fighting just to be heard. Building on conversations to date, the government is now launching a public engagement campaign, spanning every region of the country, putting families at the heart of its plans to create a reformed SEND system that will stand the test of time.

Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould is hosting nine face-to-face events, run in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children, and five online events covering the department’s five principles of reform. This will provide more than 100,000 opportunities for parents, families and the sector to share their views – opening up a direct line to the people who know the system best.

The themes of engagement include: 

·       Early intervention, including earlier in children’s lives when this can have most impact. 

·       Local provision, so young people can learn at a school close to their home, alongside their peers, as well as the vital role of special provision for complex needs. 

·       Fairness, so every school has the resources and capability to meet changing needs – stopping parents fighting for support and ensuring clear legal safeguards for children and parents.   

·       Effective practice, grounded in evidence to ensure excellent long-term outcomes.  

·       Shared working that means education, health and care services working in partnership with local government, families, teachers, experts and representative bodies. 

Attendees can share their views on a range of proposals from experts – such as children having written records of support, giving families access to independent advocacy and providing a national framework for support available to children with SEN across all settings.

Minister for School Standards Georgia Gould said: 

“For too long families have felt unheard and left to battle a system that simply doesn’t deliver for their children.  

“We’re committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity for children with SEND, which is why we’re putting lived experience at the heart of our reforms and creating a direct line to parents across the nation.

“We want this to be the biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation, and I urge parents, teachers and all those with views to participate and help us deliver lasting reform.” 

Minister Gould will kick off the roadshow today in Bristol. This builds on extensive engagement which has already taken place, including over 100 listening sessions with families. Following the publication of the Schools White Paper early next year, a formal consultation will follow to continue the conversation on reform. 

Today’s announcement evidences the government’s commitment to putting parents at the heart of reform, as set out in the Education Secretary’s interim response to the Education Select Committee (ESC)’s report on Solving the SEND Crisis. 

Experts and government advisors, Tom Rees and Dame Christine Lenehan will also support the work – bringing years of expertise on inclusive practices to conversations with parents. 

Tom Rees, Chair of the DfE’s expert advisory group for inclusion said:

“Over the past year, the expert advisory group has enjoyed spending considerable time listening to and engaging with schools, parents, children and young people, as well as experts and organisations across the sector.

“There is a strong consensus that the system doesn’t work well enough and needs reforming so that it works for all children. It is also clear that there is lots of good practice that exists within schools which we can build on and learn from.

“I look forward to this period of further engagement, and the opportunity to bring ministers and officials together with parents, professionals and children right across the country.

“The five principles for reform, set out by the Secretary of State, provide us with a clear and welcome direction of travel for these conversations.”

Alongside these events, urgent work will continue to improve the current system for children. Data published today shows 71% of school leaders enrolled in a programme to support neurodiversity felt better able to meet those children’s needs as a result. 

PINS: Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools

The £22m Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme is enabling up to 2,850 mainstream primary schools to deliver earlier support for neurodiversity, including autism, dyslexia and ADHD. 

PINS gives schools access to training to upskill staff on neurodiversity, create more inclusive classroom environments and develop stronger relationships with parent carers – ensuring children receive support at the earliest possible stage, in their local community school. 

It comes on top of measures the government has already taken to improve the system, with 10,000 new school places for children with SEND as part of £740m capital investment, early language support for 20,000 more children, and professionals trained in supporting parents through Best Start Family Hubs rolling out to every area from April. 

There are many settings already doing a fantastic job of supporting pupils with SEND and ensuring they are a part of school life. Ministers will be visiting schools across the country to draw on these examples, testing views on what truly works for children, parents and teachers. 

A development group of key stakeholders, including SEND parent groups, will also meet regularly with Ministers between now and the end of January to drive reform forward.  

There are several ways to get involved: 

Sign up to attend an online event here.

Sign up to attend a regional engagement event here

Sector Reaction:

Responding after the government launched a ‘national conversation’ on changes to SEND support, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“While there is an urgent need to reshape the failing SEND system, these additional conversations with parents and school visits will be well worthwhile if they help ensure the government gets these reforms right.

“The principles behind this exercise are broadly positive, especially the focus on early intervention, local provision and collaboration between services.

“The ambition to ensure every school has the resources to deliver the right provision for pupils is hugely welcome and it is absolutely crucial that the government delivers on this. To do so ministers must recognise that significant additional investment will be required, because children’s needs cannot be simply wished away.

“Too often, schools simply do not have sufficient funding, and face an unfair postcode lottery when it comes to support for children with the greatest needs. They also struggle to access support from specialists like educational psychologists and speech and language therapists, and this must also be addressed, especially given the focus on ensuring more pupils can remain in mainstream settings.”

Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, said: 

“For years, private equity-funded providers have squeezed schools, parents and councils, profiting from the needs of some of the most vulnerable children.

“Boosting mainstream capacity will help, but to believe private equity will simply charge less out of compassion is nothing short of fanciful.

“Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to introduce a profit cap on private SEND providers and bring an end to a system that treats children as cash cows.”